proved in the end of very little
service, and were drawn by seamen sent from the different ships
for the purpose. The sailors, thus employed, may be rated at a
hundred, and those occupied in carrying stores, ammunition, and
other necessaries, at a hundred more; and thus, by adding these,
together with fifty sappers and miners, to the above amount, the
whole number of men landed at St. Benedict's may be computed at
four thousand five hundred.

This little army was posted upon a height which rises at the
distance of two miles from the river. In front was a valley,
cultivated for some way, and intersected with orchards; at the
further extremity of which the advanced piquets took their
ground; pushing forward a chain of sentinels to the very skirts
of the forest. The right of the position was protected by a
farm-house with its enclosure and outbuildings, and the left
rested upon the edge of the hill, or rather mound, which there
abruptly ended. On the brow of the hill, and about the centre of
the line were placed the cannon, ready loaded, and having lighted
fusees beside them; whilst the infantry bivouacked immediately
under the ridge, or rather upon the slope of the hill which
looked towards the shipping, in order to prevent their
disposition from being seen by the enemy; should they come down
to attack. But as we were now in a country where we could not
calculate upon being safe in rear, any more than in front, the
chain of piquets was carried round both flanks, and so arranged,
that no attempt could be made to get between the army and the
fleet, without due notice, and time given to oppose and prevent
it. Everything, in short, was arranged with the utmost skill,
and every chance of surprise provided against; but the night
passed in quiet, nor was an opportunity afforded of evincing the
utility of the very soldier-like dispositions which had been
made.

CHAPTER VIII.

NOTTINGHAM

NEXT morning the troops, as is customary during a state of active
warfare, were under arms an hour before daylight, and remained in
position till after the sun had risen. It was then confidently
expected that the column would be put in motion, though in what
direction it was to proceed, or what was the object of the
descent, none but the General himself appeared to know. A
rumour, indeed, prevailed, that a flotilla of gun-boats upon the
Patuxent, commanded by the American Commodore Barney, was the
point of attack; and that whi